Manager, Design Systems

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manager, Design Systems

Company: Allegion

Location: Golden, CO

Job Type: Full time

Category: Design Systems / UX Operations

Date Posted: 2026-11-03T00:00:00

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the technical operations and people management for Allegion's design system, ensuring its scalability and effectiveness across mobile and web software platforms.

• Drive the adoption and consistent application of design system components and standards through close collaboration with product management, software developers, designers, and researchers.

• Establish and maintain robust governance, including contribution standards, versioning, defect resolution processes, and accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.2 AA).

• Implement and manage AI-assisted workflows to enhance efficiency and consistency in component generation, checking, and documentation for both designers and engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role bridges the gap between design and engineering, focusing on the operationalization of a design system to ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality across Allegion's software products. It requires a blend of technical acumen, leadership, and a deep understanding of design system principles and their practical application. The emphasis on AI-assisted workflows indicates a forward-thinking approach to design system management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and manage the shared design system repository, overseeing GitHub workflows, pull requests, code reviews, and component releases to ensure a streamlined development process.

• Coordinate closely with engineering teams to build, review, and release coded components, clearly defining expectations and standards for all contributors.

• Maintain strict synchronization between the Figma design library and the corresponding coded components to prevent discrepancies and ensure design integrity.

• Define, implement, and enforce contribution standards, versioning strategies, and deprecation practices for all design system assets.

• Operate and refine the defect resolution process, ensuring clear procedures for reporting, triaging, fixing, reviewing, and releasing issues with designated owners.

• Integrate and enforce accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 AA) into all component development and review processes.

• Develop and maintain reusable AI agent skills (e.g., for Claude Code) to automate component generation, validation, and documentation, adhering to established standards.

• Establish and enforce code review practices and guardrails specifically for AI-generated code to maintain quality and security.

• Train designers and engineers on new workflows, AI tools, and best practices for reviewing AI output and contributing to the design system.

• Create comprehensive documentation, onboarding materials, and conduct demos to evangelize the design system and drive adoption across all relevant product teams.

• Define, track, and report on key metrics related to the design system's health, including adoption rates, component reuse, and the reduction of duplicated work.

• Manage, coach, and develop a team of one to three direct reports (designers and/or engineers) and oversee external contractors as needed.

• Partner with UX leadership, product management, and engineering leadership to strategically align design system priorities with product roadmaps and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on process, governance, and technical execution within the design system framework. The inclusion of AI-assisted workflows and accessibility standards indicates a modern and comprehensive approach to design system management, requiring candidates to be technically proficient and strategic in their operational thinking.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 8+ years of experience in design systems, design engineering, UX, or front-end development, including 2+ years in a people management or team leadership capacity.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience working with shared code repositories, specifically GitHub, including branching, pull requests, code review processes, and component releases.

• Proficiency in Figma, with a strong understanding of components, variables, and auto layout features.

• Experience with design token tooling and familiarity with native mobile design guidelines (e.g., Apple Human Interface Guidelines, Material Design).

• Solid front-end development skills (HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript) and experience with component frameworks such as React, sufficient for building and reviewing code.

• Technical expertise in component-based UI development for both web and native mobile platforms, enabling effective collaboration with engineers and guidance on reusable component architecture.

• Demonstrated experience in defining and implementing design system governance frameworks, covering contributions, versioning, defect handling, and deprecation policies.

• Working fluency with Jira for issue tracking and project management.

• Working knowledge of accessibility standards, specifically WCAG 2.2 AA.

• Strong communication and stakeholder collaboration skills, with the ability to influence engineering and product partners effectively without direct authority. Preferred Skills:

• Experience implementing AI coding agents, reusable agent skills, or automated design-to-code workflows.

• Experience managing external contractors or vendors.

• Background in connected-device, security, or access-control software industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of design system expertise, technical development skills (especially front-end and component frameworks), and leadership capabilities. Proficiency in key tools like Figma and GitHub is critical, as is the ability to define and enforce operational processes like governance and defect resolution. The inclusion of AI and accessibility as preferred skills suggests the company is looking for candidates who are forward-thinking and committed to inclusive design practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a track record of successfully establishing and managing design systems, showcasing the evolution and impact of the system over time.

• Provide examples of how you have defined and implemented governance models, including contribution workflows, versioning strategies, and quality assurance processes.

• Include case studies that highlight your experience in synchronizing design tools (like Figma) with code repositories, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

• Showcase projects where you have successfully driven adoption of design system components across multiple product teams or platforms, detailing the strategies used and the resulting impact. Process Documentation:

• Examples of well-documented contribution guidelines, including clear steps for designers and engineers to submit new components or updates.

• Demonstrate experience in establishing and managing a defect resolution process for design system elements, outlining triage, prioritization, and release procedures.

• Showcase how you have documented and implemented accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 AA) within a design system's lifecycle, including review and validation processes.

• Provide examples of process documentation related to AI-assisted workflows, such as guidelines for using AI code generation tools and reviewing their output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare a portfolio that not only showcases design system assets but also their operational and leadership capabilities. This includes demonstrating the ability to define and enforce processes, manage technical workflows (especially with GitHub and code), and drive adoption. The emphasis on process documentation and AI integration suggests a need to highlight systematic approaches to design system management and innovation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $118,200 - $187,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) to support work-life balance.

• 401K plan with a 6% company match and no vesting period.

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for tax-advantaged healthcare and dependent care expenses.

• Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance.

• Term life insurance with the option to purchase supplemental coverage.

• Tuition Reimbursement program to support ongoing education and skill development.

• Voluntary Wellness Program offering monetary rewards for completing wellness activities.

• Employee Discounts through Perks at Work.

• Opportunities for community involvement and giving back.

• Access to CliftonStrengths assessment and coaching.

Working Hours: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, with flexibility offered through Allegion's hybrid work model. Specific in-office days will be determined by the hiring team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a management role with this level of experience and responsibility in the US tech market. The comprehensive benefits package, including unlimited PTO and a strong 401K match, indicates a commitment to employee well-being and long-term investment. The hybrid work arrangement offers a balance between in-person collaboration and remote flexibility. The bonus eligibility also adds to the overall compensation structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Security & Safety, Building Technology, Manufacturing. Allegion operates globally, specializing in security solutions around the doorway and beyond, with over 40 brands and a presence in 130 countries.

Company Size: 14,000+ employees globally. This large organizational size suggests a mature company with established processes, but also the potential for significant impact and career growth within various departments and brands.

Founded: Allegion was established in 2013 as a spin-off from Ingersoll Rand. This relatively recent founding as an independent entity suggests a company that retains some of the stability of a long-standing industry player while fostering a culture of innovation and adaptation.

Team Structure:

• The role is part of the Global Software Solutions (GSS) UX team, indicating a centralized UX function supporting various software products.

• This role involves managing one to three direct reports (designers and/or engineers), suggesting a small, focused team within the broader UX department.

• Close collaboration is expected with product managers, software developers, designers, and researchers across different product lines. Methodology:

• The design system is treated as a critical technical asset, requiring dedicated ownership for its maintenance and evolution.

• Emphasis is placed on operationalizing the system through clear standards, reliable processes, and efficient workflows.

• AI-assisted workflows are being integrated to accelerate delivery and improve consistency, signaling a forward-thinking approach to UX and development processes.

• Accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA) is a core standard, integrated into component development and review.

Company Website: https://www.allegion.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Allegion's focus on safety and security, combined with its global reach and recent recognition for workplace culture (Gallup awards), suggests an environment that values purpose, employee engagement, and continuous improvement. The role's placement within GSS UX highlights the strategic importance of software solutions and user experience within the company's broader mission.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Managerial role, indicating a significant step up from an individual contributor. It requires not only deep technical and domain expertise in design systems but also the ability to lead, mentor, and strategically influence across functional teams. The focus is on managing the operational health and evolution of a critical shared resource.

Reporting Structure: The Manager, Design Systems will report within the UX team structure, likely to a Director or VP of UX/Design within Global Software Solutions. They will directly manage a small team of individual contributors.

Operations Impact: The design system is a core operational component that directly impacts the efficiency, consistency, and quality of Allegion's software products. By ensuring a robust and well-maintained design system, this role has a significant influence on:

• Development Velocity: Reducing duplicated effort and providing pre-built, tested components accelerates product development cycles.

• Product Consistency: Ensuring a unified user experience across all Allegion's web and mobile applications.

• Brand Integrity: Maintaining a consistent visual and functional identity.

• Technical Debt Reduction: Proactively managing component updates, deprecations, and defect resolution minimizes future rework.

• Accessibility Compliance: Ensuring all products meet required accessibility standards, reducing legal and reputational risk.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced design system architecture, AI integration in design/development workflows, and accessibility best practices.

• Leadership Development: Expand people management skills, strategic planning, and cross-functional influence within a large, global organization.

• Strategic Influence: Grow to influence broader UX and product development strategies by demonstrating the ROI and impact of the design system.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into broader UX leadership roles, product management, or engineering management positions within GSS or other Allegion divisions.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to best practices in the design systems community through speaking or publishing, potentially leading to greater industry influence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression from individual contributor to a management and strategic leadership position within the UX operations domain. The emphasis on technical innovation (AI) and critical operational functions (governance, accessibility) positions the candidate for future growth in a company that values impactful contributions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. This model combines in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. The specific balance of in-office vs. remote days will be determined by the team's needs and the individual's role.

Office Location(s): Golden, CO. This location suggests a hub for certain Allegion operations, potentially offering opportunities for in-person collaboration with local product, design, and engineering teams.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters an environment where focused individual work can be done remotely, while key meetings, brainstorming sessions, and team-building activities can occur in person.

• Access to necessary design and development tools (Figma, GitHub, Jira) is implied, supporting efficient workflow regardless of location.

• The role requires significant interaction with distributed teams (product managers, developers, designers, researchers), necessitating strong virtual collaboration skills and tools.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, the hybrid nature and the demands of managing a critical system suggest a need for flexibility. This may involve occasional adjustments to accommodate critical releases, urgent defect resolution, or cross-time zone collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment in Golden, CO, offers a blend of structure and flexibility. Candidates should be comfortable with a mix of remote and in-office work and possess strong self-management and communication skills to thrive in this setting. The emphasis on collaboration suggests that in-office days will likely be utilized for high-impact team interactions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely review your resume and application to assess basic qualifications and experience, with a focus on design system management and leadership.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the hiring manager to discuss your experience in design systems, people management, technical leadership, and operational processes. Expect questions about your approach to governance, collaboration, and team development.

• Technical/Team Interview: This may involve a technical deep-dive into your experience with Figma, GitHub, front-end development, and accessibility. You might also meet with potential direct reports or key engineering/product stakeholders to assess collaboration style and technical alignment.

• Portfolio Presentation: A crucial step where you will be asked to present a case study or overview of a past design system you managed or significantly contributed to. Focus on demonstrating operational ownership, governance, technical execution, and impact.

• Final Round/Leadership Interview: Potentially a discussion with senior UX or GSS leadership to assess strategic thinking, cultural fit, and overall leadership potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on Operational Ownership: Highlight your role in defining and managing the processes and governance of the design system, not just creating components.

• Showcase Technical Workflow: Detail your experience with GitHub workflows, code reviews, component releases, and how you ensured synchronization between design and code.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics (adoption rates, reuse statistics, reduction in bugs, development time savings) to demonstrate the value your design system brought to the organization.

• Address AI and Accessibility: If you have experience with AI-assisted workflows or significant contributions to accessibility standards, showcase these prominently, as they are key requirements.

• Storytelling: Structure your presentation around a narrative: the challenge, your approach (processes, tools, team management), and the measurable outcomes.

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss specific technologies (Figma, React, CSS, HTML, JS/TS), accessibility standards (WCAG 2.2 AA), and development tools (Jira, GitHub).

Challenge Preparation:

• You may be given a hypothetical scenario to outline how you would address a specific design system challenge (e.g., improving contribution velocity, resolving a major defect backlog, implementing a new AI workflow).

• Prepare to discuss how you would structure a design system team, define roles and responsibilities, and foster collaboration between design and engineering.

• Think about how you would measure the success and health of a design system and what key performance indicators (KPIs) you would track.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, emphasizing both technical leadership and operational management skills. A strong portfolio that clearly demonstrates practical experience in managing a design system's technical operations, governance, and team will be critical. Preparing specific examples and quantifiable results will be key to success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design System Platform: Figma (components, variables, auto layout).

• Version Control & Collaboration: GitHub (workflows, pull requests, code reviews, branching, releases).

• Project Management & Tracking: Jira (issue tracking, workflow management, defect resolution).

• AI Integration: Claude Code (or similar AI coding agents) for generating, checking, and documenting components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for tracking design system adoption, reuse, and defect metrics (specific tools not listed, but likely custom dashboards or integrated reporting within Jira/GitHub).

• Figma analytics for component usage and adoption within the design tool. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly CRM-focused, the role involves managing a system that automates and standardizes UI development, akin to process automation in other operational domains.

• Familiarity with design token tooling is required for managing design variables across platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and GitHub is essential. Experience with Jira is also required for operational workflow management. The inclusion of AI coding agents like Claude Code points to a need for candidates who are adaptable and willing to explore cutting-edge technologies for design system management. Understanding of design tokens and front-end frameworks like React is also critical.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Safety & Security: As a core company mission, this translates to a value of robust, reliable, and secure systems, including the design system itself.

• Pioneering Safety: Encourages innovation and forward-thinking approaches, as seen in the adoption of AI-assisted workflows.

• Employee Engagement & Strengths-Based Development: Allegion's Gallup awards highlight a culture that values employee potential, development, and leveraging individual strengths.

• Purpose-Driven: A focus on making a tangible impact through the products and services offered.

• Efficiency & Consistency: The design system role directly embodies these values by streamlining development and ensuring a uniform user experience.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Requires seamless collaboration between UX designers, front-end engineers, product managers, and researchers.

• Influence Without Authority: The role necessitates influencing stakeholders across product and engineering to adopt and contribute to the design system.

• Process-Oriented: A culture that values clear processes, documentation, and continuous improvement for operational efficiency.

• Data-Informed: Decisions regarding the design system's evolution and health will be driven by metrics and adoption data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Allegion's culture appears to be a blend of established corporate values (safety, purpose) and a modern, employee-centric approach (engagement, strengths-based development, innovation). For this role, success will depend on fostering a collaborative spirit, driving consensus, and demonstrating the operational benefits of a well-managed design system.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Driving Adoption: Convincing diverse product teams to adopt and consistently use the design system components over custom solutions.

• Maintaining Synchronization: Ensuring the Figma library and coded components remain in sync, especially with rapid development cycles and multiple contributors.

• Scaling Governance: Implementing and enforcing contribution standards, versioning, and deprecation practices effectively across a large organization.

• AI Integration Complexity: Successfully implementing and training teams on AI-assisted workflows, managing guardrails, and ensuring quality output.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Balancing the needs and priorities of various product teams, engineering, and UX leadership.

• Measuring ROI: Clearly demonstrating the tangible business value and efficiency gains derived from the design system.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Strategy: Gaining experience in scaling design systems for large enterprises and managing complex governance models.

• AI in Design/Development: Deepening knowledge and practical experience with AI tools for automating design and development tasks.

• Accessibility Expertise: Becoming a subject matter expert in WCAG 2.2 AA compliance within a product development context.

• Leadership and Mentorship: Developing people management skills, coaching direct reports, and leading strategic initiatives.

• Industry Best Practices: Staying abreast of evolving design system trends, tools, and methodologies through conferences, community engagement, and continuous learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a Manager of Design Systems in a large organization. Successfully navigating these will require strong technical, operational, and interpersonal skills. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a path to become a leader in a critical and evolving field within UX operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on design system governance. How do you balance contribution flexibility with consistency?"

• "How would you approach getting buy-in from engineering teams for design system contributions and adherence?"

• "Walk me through your process for managing defects and ensuring timely resolution within a design system."

• "Imagine you need to introduce AI-generated code components. What steps would you take to ensure quality, accessibility, and team adoption?"

• "How do you measure the success and ROI of a design system? What key metrics would you track?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Allegion's mission, how do you see the design system contributing to 'peace of mind' through safety and security?"

• "How would you foster a culture of collaboration and shared ownership of the design system across different teams?"

• "Allegion values employee strengths. How would you leverage the strengths of your team members to manage the design system effectively?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in design systems, AI, and accessibility?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of the organization and the problem the design system aimed to solve. Detail your specific role and responsibilities, emphasizing operational ownership.

• Process & Governance: Clearly outline the contribution model, versioning strategy, defect resolution process, and how you ensured consistency and quality. Use diagrams if possible.

• Technical Execution: Showcase examples of component synchronization between design and code, your experience with GitHub workflows, and any AI integrations you implemented.

• Impact & Metrics: Present quantifiable results such as adoption rates, reduction in development time, decrease in bugs, or improvements in accessibility compliance.

• Team Management: Briefly touch upon how you managed your team and collaborated with stakeholders.

• AI & Accessibility Focus: Ensure these critical aspects are highlighted with specific examples of implementation and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of design system operations, from technical implementation to team leadership and strategic alignment. Quantifiable achievements and a clear articulation of your process-driven approach will be key differentiators.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Allegion careers portal.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with design systems, people management, technical operations (GitHub, Figma, front-end development), governance, accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA), and any AI/automation experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a portfolio that clearly showcases your operational leadership of a design system. Include case studies demonstrating process definition, governance implementation, technical execution (code/design sync), team management, and quantifiable impact. Be ready to present this.

• Interview Practice: Prepare answers to common interview questions, focusing on behavioral examples that demonstrate your leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration skills. Practice articulating your experience with design system challenges and successes.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Allegion's mission, products, and culture, particularly their recent Gallup awards and emphasis on safety and security. Understand how the design system role contributes to these broader company objectives.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.